fisheries, sea walls, egg harvest for consumption and native species predation Each turtle is swimming for a cause to raise awareness about each specific threat to sea turtles. The public is encouraged to support a turtle's cause or several causes. The turtle that generates the most support by the conclusion of the race will win the Causes Challenge. All donations made towards Causes have a direct impact on sea turtle conservation. How Tour de Turtles helps sea turtles Tour de Turtles empowers audiences with ways to help combat sea turtle threats. This level of community involvement and public support has a significantly positive impact on sea turtle populations around the world. Using information gained through Tour de Turtles, the public will understand how to fight and eliminate human-caused threats to sea turtles. The scientific community also benefits All data collected will be applied to research about these endangered species and their little-known migratory patterns. Participating in Tour de Turtles Audiences can view photos, watch videos, learn about the turtles' causes, see individual migration-tracking maps and hear periodic interviews with each marathoner through the biography of each participating sea turtle. People participate through adopting a swimmer to support a Cause. Tour de Turtles also provides a free Educator's Manual that teachers use to incorporate sea turtles and conservation themes into lesson plans. Satellite tracking technology Satellite telemetry involves following an object on the Earth's surface through the use of orbiting satellites. Researchers at CCC use this technology to track the migratory patterns of sea turtles in the Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean. Satellite telemetry allows researchers to obtain up-to-date location data every time the sea turtle rises to the surface for air. A Platform Terminal Transmitter (PTT) is attached to the back of a sea turtle. The PTT sends a signal full of information to an orbiting satellite each time the turtle surfaces. The satellite re-transmits the data to a receiving station on Earth. Researchers can then access this information through their computer. Satellite transmitters can be attached several different ways. For hard-shell turtles, such as Green turtles, Loggerhead or Hawksbills, the Marine Epoxy Method or the Fiberglass and Resin Method are used. Both methods are safe for the turtles, neither hurting their shells nor restricting their movements in the ocean. Transmitters are designed to safely fall off the turtles after about a year and a half. Leatherback turtles, which lack